As you can tell from the previous entry, I was in a bit of a bad mood after the Tiwanaku debacle.

When I got back, I went to the Plaza Murillo and sat down there, admiring the cathedral and the colonial buildings. Lots of Bolivians were having snacks and enjoying the sun and enjoying the last of the Christmas weekend.

When I got back to the hotel, I couldn't believe my luck: The Da Vinci Code had turned up on the otherwise poor book exchange of the hotel. I snatched it up, because I need some stuff to read when I'm in Copacabana.

This morning, La Paz has gone back to work. This included the guy who is laying tiles at the hotel, so I was awakened by lots of hammering. It was nice and sunny, so I settled in the garden chairs outside and my legs got a nice sunburn... the sun is really strong at this altitude.

I had lunch for the last time at Cafe La Terrazza and went to the Plaza San Pedro. There is a prison here, but it is unlike a normal prison. The inmates have to pay for their keep, and there are no guards. I'm not sure how it all works, but I couldn't find out as you cannot visit anymore.

I went to Los Amigos del Libro and bought the last Harry Potter and had some spicy Mexican wraps for dinner. I feel I am getting impatient with the beggars, not only are they very persistent, but they keep touching you and putting their hand in your face, which makes me really paranoid about my stuff.

I did give money to a beggar with no hands, who was trying to play the harmonica. He wasn't very good, but that's not the point, at least he was attempting to do something rather than just evoke people's pity. Just putting your hand out is just... lazy. I saw a shoeshine boy who had painted his face like a clown, which I thought was very clever. Maybe I'm being fascist, but it gets very tiring that I am the only one they grab hold of, they leave the bolivianos (even the obviously wealthy ones with suits and phones) alone.

The other thing I don't like about La Paz is the smell of wee, which is absolutely everywhere. I saw a little kid peeing at the cars on the Prado so I guess it's hardly surprising... Time to leave I think.